Self-service sale of tobacco: how it contributes to youth access

Abstract

Objective - To investigate the role of self service tobacco displays in increasing youth access to tobacco through shop lifting and illegal sales. Methods - Telephone surveys were con ducted with eight chain store corporate executives and 40 managers regarding tobacco product placement policies and store losses from tobacco theft. Addition ally, more than 1000 high school students completed written surveys of their sources, availability, and use of tobacco. Finally, in a sample of 101 chain stores, tobacco product placement was observed, as was the propensity of stores to sell cigarettes to minors during purchase attempts. Results -To prevent shoplifting, stores restrict customers' access to cartons and to a lesser extent to packs of cigarettes. Store managers reported losses of about $1200 annually. The problem of shop lifting was corroborated by students' reports: 9.3% reported stealing ciga rettes from stores as their primary means of access. Stores that allowed customers access to tobacco (61.4 %) were more likely to sell tobacco to minors than stores that did not (30.6% v 12.8%). Conclusions - Many minors steal ciga rettes from stores. They also find it easier to buy cigarettes from stores that allow self-service of tobacco products. Legislative bans on self-service of tobacco should be enacted to help reduce youth access to (and thereby use of) tobacco in two ways - by reducing shoplifting and reducing sales to minors. (Tobacco Control 1995; 4: 355-361)